"Shortest Way" SW51 Amp Impressions (Simple SET Amp)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Hands, Jul 12, 2019.

  1. Zampotech

    Zampotech Friend

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    What is the state of the getter in the tubes? (this is a shiny mirror layer)
     
  2. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    @gixxerwimp when u tap the table/desk, where the app is, do u hear any feedback? Like extra tube-ish microphonic sound?
     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The Mullard tubes have an O getter, and they look the same on the "bad" tubes as the good fresh ones. Relatively shiny, no obvious oxidation or pitting. Not really sure what to look for.

    With good fresh tubes in, I can hear a bit of ringing/pinging if I tap on the shelf supporting the amp. More if I tap or rub the chassis itself. With the "bad" tubes, it's much worse.


    Just to reiterate, operation of the amp is fine overall. It's just that it seems I'm not getting that much life out of my tubes. Less than 1 year each of very moderate use from 2 pairs of good measuring tubes from a trusted seller.
     
  4. ShriKrishix

    ShriKrishix Acquaintance

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    Where did you get spare tubes from?
    I found some ebay links earlier in this thread, but they don't return any multi-pack.
     
  5. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    eBay. I found a listing from Ukraine with the same stock tube but five pairs. That cost me just above $20 shipped.
     
  6. ShriKrishix

    ShriKrishix Acquaintance

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  7. abisai2

    abisai2 Friend

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    @gixxerwimp I had a similar issue as you described with the 'whistling' and 'slight microphonics'. In my case I had an issue with the top side of the socket itself. If I wiggled the tubes (right side was way worse) enough they would make just enough contact and the issue would disappear. The right tube in my case would never work correctly if seated all the way into the socket. After cleaning the tube pins I then used a small thin pin to close the gaps on the actual socket pins. Since then my issue has not returned. Hope that helps.
     
  8. Mordy

    Mordy Acquaintance

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    Are you saying that the socket itself got lose and that you had to tighten up the socket holes for the pins?
     
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The sockets are fine on my unit. Swapping to new/different tubes eliminates the noise.
     
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Don't be so quick to assume it's not the sockets or tube pins just because another pair fixes the issue. I've had a similar problem in my ZDT Jr. before. While dirty pins would make it worse, it turned out to be loose female pins in the sockets. Very similar symptoms otherwise.

    Worth trying due to low effort and cost...Carefully close the gap on the socket pins and use something a bit abrasive to clean the tube pins. Minimal risk or downside beyond it not fixing the problem.
     
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  11. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Righteo! Will tighten the "pin receivers" and make a tiny fine-grit sandpaper dildo to clean them, followed by isopropyl on a Q-tip. I've already done the same for the pins on the tubes (sandpaper mini-Fleshlight, rather than dildo).
     
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  12. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    ^ Rated for imagery (but not for under-18s).
     
  13. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Firstly, don't think I mentioned it yet, but when I put the first pair that went "bad" last year back in, they weren't noisy anymore. The second pair that just recently went "bad" were still noisy.

    OK, gotta ✋ it to @Hands. I reamed out each pin socket with 800 grit sandpaper and cleaned them out as much as possible with tufts pulled out from Q-tips, twisted, and wetted with isopropyl. I then used some pointy eyebrow scissors to bend them in and tighten them up. Not sure how easy it will be to see in these photos. I tried to crop them so the sockets are the same size and centered.

    Before:
    20210314_121333.jpg

    After:
    20210314_122746.jpg

    Whaddya know! The noise seems to be gone from the first second* "bad" pair now, and they're much less microphonic.

    When I first got the SW51+, the sockets were really tight and after they loosened up a bit it was much easier to change out tubes. But I guess a tight fit is more conducive to clean sound.

    Thanks to everyone for their help \/

    *edited to correct error
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2021
  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Awesome! Glad that at least seemed to help for now, and I hope the simple fix does the trick for you long-term within the scope of it being a "tune up" trick you have to leverage on an as-needed basis. Hopefully rarely at that.

    I think it makes sense when you think about it. We tend to rock and roll tubes to get them in and out. It seems only natural that this will widen the socket pins over time. Pins, in sockets or on tubes, might also get slightly bent.

    Couple this with factors like dirty pins on the tubes, sometimes in the socket itself, and the expansion and contraction of everything in a tube amp due to heat, one can imagine how this could not only cause connection problems, but cause intermittent, obfuscating connection issues.
     
  15. Zampotech

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    Dear friends. Today is already April 1 and I have to give a report on the production of SW51

    I must inform you that the shipment of the 4th batch is delayed. The printed circuit boards, which were supposed to arrive in early January, did not arrive until March 17. Of course, I started assembling the boards, but at the same time, you can't increase the build speed without losing quality.

    In the photo, the boards were collected by the evening of yesterday.

    [​IMG]

    For a full assembly of the 4th batch of amplifiers, I will need about another month. The 4th batch is all those who ordered the amplifier before December 20, 2020.

    There is an additional batch, 4+. There is no production delay for this batch yet.

    In addition, the arrival of special relays for the SW4/SW9 amplifier was two months late.

    Relay for audio signals.

    [​IMG]

    Polarized (bi-stable) relay for controlling the volume attenuator.

    [​IMG]

    If someone who ordered the amplifier has lost patience, please write to me by email
     
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  16. YMO

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    Curious if anyone had their SW51+ stop working, and the fuse replacement didn't work. I emailed the Zampo, so most likely something caused the power supply internally to stop working. Russia time most likely, lol.

    It's ok...crap happens.

    Edit: Fixed unit. The ground wire somehow got loose inside. I just put it back together (ground wire is holded down by one of the screws of the IEC Power connector and a bolt, which is why my mistake I stripped that screw). Ooops on my end...but amp still works excellent so boom.
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2021
  17. Mordy

    Mordy Acquaintance

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    Where can I find information on the SW4/SW9 amplifier?
     
  18. creuzabar

    creuzabar New

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    First i'm sorry if I'm asking on the less appropriate topic.
    The only headphone I'm going to power is the sennheiser hd6xx. I received a few days a Jotunhein 2 with the card ak4490. Previously I had a Drop Thx 789 and a jds amp atom.
    I wonder who has had or still has the Shortest Way SW51 and Jotunhein 2 to drive the sennheiser hd650/hd6xx, the Shortest Way SW51 is so dynamic, so good macrodynamically and microdynamically, and if mainly, it has a sound stage considerably better than the Jotunhein 2 (width, height and depth)?
    Anyway, just to play the hd650 the Shortest Way SW51 is much superior to Jotunhein 2?
    I really enjoyed hearing for the first time the hd6xx sounding with some 3d sound stage, and not just 2d (just width left and right), anyway the sound wall that leaves the stage flat and dull. That's spending just $120 more than the 299 thx 789. Also just the 330 mw of jotunhein 2 output SE led considerably better hd6xx than thx 789 800 mw xlr balanced output. How these measurements and numbers have fooled me and fooled a lot of people. These cheapest thx things are not competitive...
    But I read that the stage depth of Jotunhein 2 is considered small when compared to the best amplifiers, so I'm looking for another amplifier as good as him, with a wider and deeper sound stage (mainly), but in the same price range, so I'm asking about the Shortest Way SW51, if it can solve this problem for me , or if you have another amplifier comparable to these 2 in this same price range.
    Thanks!
     
  19. Zampotech

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    I can only give you a short information.

    -SW4-amplifier built on the principle of "shortest way" on the 6Z4 tube

    [​IMG]

    Or on the original 6AC7 tube

    [​IMG]

    This amplifier will have a cenotron power supply, a balanced input, and a step attenuator. The SW4 amplifier is designed to work with dynamic headphones.

    - The SW9 amplifier is completely similar to the SW4 amplifier, but uses a 6P9 tube

    [​IMG]

    Or on the original 6AG7 tube

    [​IMG]

    The SW9 amplifier is designed to work with planar headphones.

    Two similar amplifiers turned out because I could not make an amplifier that works equally well with dynamic and planar headphones. Either-or.

    The body of the SW4 and SW9 will be made of wood and steel.

    I will start working on the production of these amps after the start of sending the SW51, which is still delayed.
     
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  20. creuzabar

    creuzabar New

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    Please give us an initial idea as to the final price of these amplifiers, they probably will cost more than the sw51, perhaps in the range of $500 or more, correct? Although they have a sound higher than sw51, I imagine.
     

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